Category Archives: Cardio Fitness

Burn MORE Fat Fast With Your Cardio Workout!

Take the weight off your shoulders – and your waistline – with a worry-free, kick-butt approach to combating cardio confusion when you train.

From walking and running to indoor machine training, cardiovascular exercise is an essential part of the fat-burning equation in any training program, yet most of my clients are equally split as to their love for cardio. While half prefer it over resistance training, the other half avoids it, preferring just their resistance training. On both sides it’s a struggle for balance.

Cardio Kick-Start

If you have trouble getting started, perceive cardio sessions in general to be quite boring and monotonous, or feel enough results will eventually come without additional cardio, there is an answer! Switching it up from your usual basic manual level option on your treadmill or elliptical session is a great place to start. Trying out the different types of program and intensity options on your machine will help you get the most out of your cardio workout. Better yet, it will hold your interest longer and you’ll burn a ton more calories than you’re use to – and that means winning the battle of the bulge!

Stoke Your Fat Burning Fire

To successfully turn your body’s metabolism into a fat-burning inferno you need three things.

A hard-hitting plan with the right fat-burning cardio techniques to ensure you’re maximizing the time spent.

You’ll need to burn more calories than you’re taking in on a daily basis.

Some great program options.

3 Tips For Choosing The Right Cardio Program

Wandering aimlessly around the gym or your personal home fitness space trying to figure out what to do next is one big reason so many people see little results, if any. Your ticket to getting the most out of your cardio sessions rests in choosing the right program.

eLifestyle Creates Customized Plans.

You need:

A time-efficient, dynamic workout that utilizes all the programs and intensities your cardio piece has to offer.

A workout tweaked for your specific fat-burning goals, limitations and ability to keep you focused and produce fast results.

A no-fail program that uses an initial three-week timetable.

To stoke your metabolism into high gear, your program should include:

A warm-up, cool-down and stretching

A challenging mix of intensities – forward, backwards and side-stepping

Hill climbs, speed and recovery intervals

2 Top Cardio Workouts to Burn MORE Calories & Torch Body Fat Fast!

1. Push-Pull Super Strokes can really roar up your heart rate while engaging rear and posterior muscles of the upper body at the same time. Of course, doing so will further spur on additional calorie expenditure.

Method: Focus on pulling with power for a pre-determined amount of time. Then do the same on a reverse approach, focusing on pushing with the same intensity.

2. 12-Minute Mash-Ups really tax your ticker while forcibly working muscle fibers to their max at the same time during this circuit-style approach.

Method (Inserted into the mid-point of your cardio session): Focus on upper body by pushing for 3 minutes on an incline of level 5, then on pulling for 3 minutes going in reverse at level 5. Next, still at level 5, focus on lower body only by using your legs and core muscles to balance, striding forward for 3 minutes, then finishing off by doing the same, but this time in reverse.

Walking Wise – Performing At The Right Intensity

If walking is your thing, make sure you’re upping your pace from week to week until you reach a brisk stride that elevates your heart rate in a way that still allows you to have a conversation. (Your perceived amount of exertion should feel about 70-75% of your maximum level of effort.) This is how you’ll ensure calorie burning will be maximized while still remaining within the high end of your ability.

Safety 4-Play – From Tread to Trail

When beginning any type of exercise, be it cardio machines or trail walking:

Maintain a realistic approach to your ability and your goals.

Start off in a light manner and progress naturally.

Always include a light warm-up and stretch to avoid injury.

If you have any physical or medical concerns, consult with your medical professional; don’t wait until after you’re injured!

eTransformation Online Weight Loss & Lifestyle Program

Get the abs you’ve always wanted!

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On A Journey… Meet Jacqueline – just one of the thousands of eLifestyle success stories!

“If I Can Do It, You Can Too!”

“My journey with eLifestyle has been completely life changing. I have learned what is important to me, how to be healthy and to take better care of myself. With this easy-to-follow program I continue to lose weight, and because of this I have turned into a brand new me that I am very proud of.”

Jacqueline Emes

Alberta, Canada

Beating Your Winter Waistline Woes

With the dreary winter season fast approaching, cold temperatures and darker days threaten to drain our will to focus on fitness goals. What’s more, unwanted wait gain can creep up slowly making it even harder to resume efforts later on if we fall of the wagon. With cardiovascular exercise being an essential part of the fat-burning equation – one that really doesn’t have to demand a lot of your time – it’s time to stay focused and beat your winter waistline woes!

Hard Body Summer Shape-Up

TRX, Agility Ladders and more – we’re taking gymless training up a notch so you can shape a tight, toned and super strong physique this summer – outdoors!

Fresh air is invigorating while vitamin D provided by the sun is an essential nutrient to the body. What’s more, the warm feeling of the sun can provide an encouraging lift in attitude that will help supercharge your exercise efforts. So with that in mind, this month we share the latest info on some exceptional take-anywhere equipment options, plus an intense training trio to guarantee stealthy results. So get stoked because we’re thinking outside the “box” by dropping the traditional indoor exercises of free weights and resistance machines to deliver a multi-faceted approach to strength and cardiovascular conditioning – outdoors!

Fit & Functional

Every rep, every set, every workout, to get the most out of your training you need to be challenged on all three planes of motion: transverse (internal/external rotation), frontal (abduction/adduction), and sagittal ( flexion/extension). These are the three primary planes of motion the body is divided into, and are important because all motion occurs around one of these three planes. No matter your current level of fitness, keeping this knowledge in mind will lead to increased fitness while creating balance and stability over your entire body. This means that you’ll be able to perform the regular functions of your day with more ease.

Military & Sport-Inspired Fitness

No matter what you do, body resistance training can be highly effective for use in rehab and sport conditioning. You simply match the type and intensity of each exercise to your specific need. We’ve listed many great advantages of bodyweight-only training below. Plus, if athletes and the military can build their eye-turning physiques with this style of training, you can too!

So, if you’re ready for a fun and savvy way to get fit, check out the body-tightening trifecta top eLifestyle personal trainer, Robb Armstrong, has assembled in Robb’sHard Body Connection below. Plus, each exercise also comes complete with required equipment for each of the moves in the three stations!

Robb’s Hard Body Connection

How To: First, find an open space outdoors. For executing the TRX moves you will require a space that has a fixed object like a tree a limb, monkey bars, swing set, etc.

Next, perform each move in the circuit for the duration of 1 minute until the end, taking just 30 seconds max rest between each exercise. After each full circuit, rest for 3 minutes (less if desired) and then continue on for 3 rounds.

Station #1 – TRX: Squat Jumps & Rows Combo (30 sec. each move)

2. Begin by holding TRX straps, standing in a shoulder-width squat stance. Slowly lower into a squat (stopping at approx. a 90º at the knee for safety), and quickly jump taking both feet off of the ground.

3. Be sure to land with your feet flat with the majority of weight on your heels, back into a squatting position.

Next, switch to Rows:

1. Holding the TRX handles in each hand, face the anchor point. Standing with both feet close together facing forward, maintain this foot position throughout the exercise.

2. Jump up with both feet and land on the left foot only in the first square.

3. Immediately push off with your left foot and land with both feet in the second square.

4. Immediately push off with both feet and land on your right foot only.

5. Push off from your right foot and land on both feet.

6. Repeat this pattern for the full length of the ladder.

Big Time Bodyweight Training

To build diversity in your efforts and a bigger circuit with more stations, here’s just a few of the awesome bodyweight fitness-boosting pieces of equipment we used today that you can pull together to up your game:

TRX System – Professional Package: A total body training system that dramatically boosts your fitness level with over 300 exercises. “All Core All The Time”!

Equalizer Bars: Developed for bodyweight strength training in mind, but this versatile set of bars can also be used for cardiovascular training, muscle strength and endurance and stretching.

No Excuses!

Most people plan to exercise outdoors when the good weather hits, but few seldom make that a reality. Don’t fall off the fitness wagon this summer! Your take-anywhere-anytime approach to your training equipment will greatly advance your fitness level while keeping you on par with your goals. Keeping a variety of training tools on hand that can easily travel with you from your personal home space to the back yard, the cottage, or even the park, will have you super fit – not to mention turning heads this summer!

Nutrition & More For A Beach Ready Body!

If your training is on point but your efforts refuse to show, maybe matching your nutrition with your ambition will get the results to flow!

March Madness

The fast-paced life of juggling family and work, plus a balanced fitness program can often have you eating meals on-the-go. And since making sense of your options can lead to madness, we’ve got some tips to better feed your caloric need when your life is mobile.

Clean Cals for Energy & Recovery

If you’re looking to maximize your fitness and nutrition efforts, a wise strategy would be to rely on what’s been proven to work. First and foremost is timing – and it’s a real science. As a matter of fact, there are two times in your day when nutrition counts the most: right off the hop in the A.M. and post-workout. While your morning meal can ensure that adequate glycogen stores (the source of energy most often used for exercise) are available for optimal performance and focus to start your day, the post-exercise meal is critical to recovery and improves your ability to train consistently.

No matter your goal, snacking is an essential part of any healthy eating plan. Regular nibbling keeps blood sugar levels stable and can help prevent overeating later in the day. However, benefiting from this plan depends on one crucial variable: the kind of food you put into your mouth. It can be a caloric conundrum if you only count the calories in what you eat as the calorie count of any snack choice is just a number until you compare the make-up of those calories to another.

3. The serving size you eat depends on your activity level. By comparison, routinely downing a sugar-saturated doughnut may fill the void for the moment, but eventually the sugar crash will zap your energy and beef up your beltline.

eLifestyle Snack Suggestion: 6 oz of Greek yogurt with fresh fruit. You’ll get several grams of fiber, 15-20 grams of fast-digesting simple sugar carbs to fuel your engine, plus a hefty 14 grams of protein! Have any time at home, or take on the go. You can even make your own Greek Yogurt from home!

In The Fast Food Lane

Nowadays, even fast food restaurants are in tune with a healthy lifestyle plan by offering salads and fruit on their menus. The produce section and deli at the grocery store offer a variety of grab and go options, and plenty of restaurants offer lots of fresh vegetables and fruit options.

eLifestyle Fast Food Suggestions:

Sandwich and sub shops. They offer a variety of vegetables to add to your sandwich or eat on the side. Ask if they can use less meat or cheese and add more vegetables. Go easy on the butter, mayonnaise and other high fat sauces.

Burger joints. Try one of the entrée salads that many are offering. If you go for the burger, choose a salad or fruit salad side instead of fries. Have 100% fruit juice in place of pop or coffee. And say no to “super sizing” your meal. No one needs that much food all at once.

Restaurants. Try one of the entrée salads that many are offering. If you go for the burger, choose a salad or fruit salad side instead of fries. Have 100% fruit juice in place of pop or coffee. And say no to “super sizing” your meal. No one needs that much food all at once. Also, watch your portion sizes. Eat until you’re comfortably full, then take the rest to go.

Bonus Tip: If part or even your entire primary goal is weight loss, do not consume fast-digesting carbs later in the evening or night unless you exercise in the evening.

Balance Your Midsection

You can boast that you can do 1000 crunches with ease, but if your technique is lagging, you shouldn’t be bragging! When it comes to re-tooling your fitness program for faster results, increasing your core strength and stability with the proper exercises for your midsection is a must. Check out the eLifestyle Plank Exercise.

Waistline Warfare

From walking to treadmill training, cardiovascular exercise is an essential part of the fat-burning equation. However, if you have trouble getting started and/or perceive cardio sessions in general to be quite boring and monotonous, think again. Varying the method along with the types of programs and intensities you use on training day will help you get the most out of your cardio workout while burning a ton more calories than you’re use to. And that means winning the battle of the bulge! Need some techniques? Try some eLifestyle cardio techniques from last month’s blog!

Measure Your Success

It requires a greater amount of attention in the beginning, but learning the options you have available to help you obtain balanced nutrition during your busy day will become second nature. Remember, the key to satisfying your health and fitness goals is that you MUST focus your nutritional intake on what you need, when and why you need it, and how you can get it. Now you’ll be ready for the beach in no time!

From Winter Blahs to Exercise Ahas!

Post-New Year resolutions can fizzle out fast when your focus fades. However, with February poised as the official countdown to Spring, it’s time to renew your zest for fitness and weight loss so you can trim weight, drop inches and build a lean, sculpted body – all in time for beach season!

Hitting the Fitness Recharge Button

This time of year the winter blahs can creep in when the temperature drops and daylight dwindles. And if your New Year goal of getting up bright and early to hit the gym at 6am before work has fizzled out, we’ve got some great food and cardio tips to hit the recharge button and fast-track your success.

Nutrition Makeover

When your fitness focus begins to fizzle out, comfort food can often start to replace the balanced nutrition plan you organized to complement your new 2016 exercise plan. Thankfully the trend of the crash diet is out and personalized nutrition plans are in. And there are some great meal prep options that can fit seamlessly into your day that can provide you with the balanced calories needed: fuel for energy, muscle repair and maintenance, and to maximize calorie burning. What’s more, we chose our top five online easy food faves suitable for any time of the day. They require little prep, taste great, and are easy on the beltline. Best of all, you’ll know you’re reaching for the right stuff to munch down instead of a calorie-laden quick-fix.

Burn Baby, Burn!

Cardio can torch calories and carve muscle at the same time!

Cardiovascular exercise is an essential part of the fat-burning equation. Plus, the way in which you leverage your body on your treadmill, elliptical or cross trainer will dictate how you’ll stimulate total body muscle recruitment at the same time. This two-in-one approach will dramatically enhance overall results. Inject some tactical techniques into your cardio regiment by switching up your program modes as well as types of resistance (elevation, direction and body position) during your workout. Want to guarantee fast results? Follow the cardio training tips below with our Cardio & Muscle Training Trifecta.

Cardio & Muscle Training Trifecta

1. Power Grade will have you elevate to bigger results by adding varying degrees of incline to your elliptical workout. It’s the uphill battle you want to engage in!

Method: Periodically over the span of your cardio session, insert an elevation change to throw your body off of its steady course, forcing it into an accelerated fat-burning mode.

2. Push-Pull Super Strokes can really roar up your heart rate while engaging rear and posterior muscles of the upper body at the same time. Of course, doing so will further spur on additional calorie expenditure.

Method: Focus on pulling with power for a pre-determined amount of time. Then do the same on a reverse approach, focusing on pushing with the same intensity.

3. Heel Pull-Backs put your hamstrings under steady fire. In most strength training outings, the quadriceps that make up the anterior (front) thigh muscles are most often trained in isolation. This leaves the hard-to-hit posterior (rear) hamstring muscles out of sync to provide a balance of strength and flexibility.

Method: While in a forward motion, focus on pulling with your heel on the foot pedal during each stride, and minimally with your arms. This works to isolate your hamstrings to keep you moving at a good pace.

Me, Myself & I

You’re accountable to yourself make it happen. Putting yourself first doesn’t mean sacrificing work, family or friends. It’s all about balance and finding the right weight loss and lifestyle program. In fact, the “right” program is one that makes you feel good, revs your energy, and keeps you looking forward to each new day because you’re seeing results. Better yet, we can help! Hire an eLifestyle Personal Trainer. We’ll take out all of the guesswork and create the perfect customized program for guaranteed fastest and safest results, no matter your goal or timeline.

Happy training!

New Year Resolution Solution – It’s YOUR Year!

Running out of exercise ideas can have you spinning your wheels to start the New Year, but with eLifestyle’s all-season solutions you’ll have a better grip on your nutrition and training resolutions to turn them into your everyday lifestyle!

Fitness resolutions always seem to take center stage after the calorie-laden holidays, and after experiencing some waistline woes most don’t know where to start. Not to worry, at eLifestyle we get it; life is like a ball of fishing line – you drop the ball once and you’re left with a tangled mess to straighten out. That’s where we come in. We have the plan to get you on track to seeing weight loss and exercise results in no time. From quick tips to goal-setting and incredible weight loss and personal Training specials, we’ll make sure your New Year fitness resolutions are tailored to YOU so you can create a sustainable lifestyle, fast!

A Focused Approach – Do It For You And Your Family

If you’ve fallen off the fitness wagon and succumbed to creating more excuses than time for exercise, we’ll start you off with 3 basic tips to power up your routine so you can be the star once more!

1. Dust off your attitude to start shedding the winter pounds!
Use the idea that spring comes quickly as motivation: It’s been proven that what’s out of sight will be out of mind, so avoid that pitfall. Think of 5 good reasons for wanting to look and feel great, write them down and post them where you’ll have a constant reminder that won’t go away. And remember, your kids are learning from you!

2. Shake off the cobwebs with friends who share the same goals!
Get your intensity groove on: Recruit some friends who have the same fitness goals and start up a plan together to walk outdoors (weather permitting) for your cardio sessions. Studies show that when in a group, positive energy is released, creating the desire to do more and stay committed.

3. Go light on your food portions for calorie control!
Like most winter fitness buffs, at the first sign of a snowflake you may have opted to trade in your spinach and chicken salad for heartier, soul-warming meat lasagna. But now, with the cold weather here it’s time to shave the calories to shed the pounds.

Match Your Goals With These 5 Best Tools:

1. Write it down. Although the most basic rule for any worthy endeavor, putting your goals on paper will serve as steady reminder to stay on track. Start by listing your most important goals in order, from losing weight to toning to simply having more energy, that way you’ll be sure to see results with your home gym.

2. Make your goals attainable and realistic. That doesn’t mean you can’t think big, just make sure to break large goals down into smaller bits that you can aim for to successfully conquer along each step of the journey.

3. Make time for research. Discover what you’ll need to match the right equipment with your goals. If you’re looking to improve cardiovascular health, then a stepper, treadmill or cross trainer will be the right ingredient. To bolster strength and muscle tone, a few dumbbells may be sufficient. Better yet, a multi-purpose unit offers the advantage of covering the needs of all muscle groups in the convenience of one machine.

4. Establish your perfect space. Make sure your home workout area is both suitable and comfortable. An area you’ll want to spend time in should be well lit and have optimal space to maneuver while doing exercises that require you to take steps foreword and back.

5. Take in proper nutrition. Simply guessing at what foods are necessary to reach your goals can have you over-eating, under-eating or taking in the wrong types of nutrition altogether.

Goal-Focused Quick Tips

Training Quick Tip:Use free weights when you train. Unlike a weighted machine that is fixed in one position, free-weight training is effective in recruiting additional stabilizer muscles to provide balance and coordination during any chosen exercise.

Weight Loss Quick Tip:Use your cardio machine to its full potential. To stoke your metabolism into high gear, take advantage of all the programs and intensities your treadmill has to offer. If you perceive treadmill training to be quite boring and monotonous, think again. Varying the type of programs and intensities you use on training day will make for a more enjoyable cardio session, not to mention burning a ton more calories than you’re use to. And that means faster results!

Fit Body Fact:Understanding protein powder supplementation. It can be of great benefit to anyone searching for a safe, easy way to ensure proper nutrition on a busy schedule. The questions are, what are they and what do you look for?

Check out this informative article by Men’s Health: “The Best Whey Protein Powder for You.” Click here to check out the full article.

Fitness & Weight Loss Specials: Cut The Excuses, Cut The Fat!

Lose weight, increase strength and lean muscle while you get into the best shape of your life NOW with this New Year 2016 Training & Weight Loss Specials 3-pack!

Give It Your All

1. Receive 1 FREE session when you purchase a package of 12, 2 FREE sessions when you purchase a package of 24, and 3 FREE sessions when you purchase a package of 36! Contact leah@elifestyle.ca or 416.841.2196 or 905.551.2141.

3. Want fast fitness results? With eLifestyle’s exclusive January offer you’ll get a customized $200 package for just $50! Plus, you’ll have a no-excuse plan to get into the best shape of your life, in the comfort of your own home!

Plan ahead now and get in shape BEFORE your New Year’s resolution fizzles away!

Running or Walking – Which Is Best for Weight loss?

eLifestyle gets you fit!

Simply put, both running and walking while trying to cut the excess pounds are a good choice, however, running does burn far more calories and can have a greater effect on overall health. That being said, it’s important to understand the difference between “burning fat” and “losing fat,” as well as what it takes to actually lose weight.

How Your Body Uses Calories

Walking is an excellent exercise for fat burning. While any exercise can burn calories, brisk walking for 45 minutes mobilizes the body to dip into fat reserves and burn stored fat. Walkers can also achieve the exercise intensity that uses more fat as fuel.

The Fat Burning Zone

Balance nutrition and exercise.

The fat-burning zone is at 60-70% of your maximum heart rate. In this zone of exercise intensity, 85% of your calories burned are fats, 5% are proteins and 10% are carbohydrates. When walking at a brisk pace, you’ll be breathing heavier, feeling increased exertion and beginning to perspire, but you’ll still be able to carry on a conversation. These are your tell-tale signs that you’re in this preferred zone.

To fuel your run the body primarily uses carbs and fat as its go-to energy source, and the ratio of carbs and fat actually changes depending on your speed and intensity. For high-intensity running, such as interval workouts for example, your body will rely more on carbs for fuel than fat because they’re a more readily available source of energy. For long, slower runs, your body starts using fat as an energy source. What’s more, many eLifestyle clients have reached their fitness and weight loss goals with our 12-Week eTransformation Exercise & Lifestyle Program!

What It Takes to Lose Fat by Running

Run or walk – it’s up to you!

It’s important to remember that when you’re trying to shed pounds it doesn’t matter what type of fuel you use. Just because you’re using more fat as energy doesn’t mean you’re losing fat or burning more calories.

The simple fact is, in order to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you take in daily. As with running, or any other forms of exercise, the harder you work dictates the amount of calories you’ll burn.

You must also keep in mind that there are a few things to consider that will determine which is best for you to do as an individual to meet your weight loss goals – all which are predetermined by your personal ability.

Your Fitness Ability Determines Results

Matching your intensity for walking or running with your ability is key in a few ways. First, if you’re you a beginner, are overweight, have any current injuries, or have any pre-existing physical or medical conditions such as shin splints, a cardiovascular condition or osteoporosis, you’ll want to limit your intensity.

Next, you monitor success and increase intensity accordingly. This is where walking for weight loss has the clear edge due to the low impact it has on bones, joints and muscles while still increasing the benefits on overall health.

Time Spent

Whether walking or running, you’ll get the greatest benefit if you aim for thirty to sixty minutes each day, building on your intensity as you improve on your ability.

Goals

For best results keep them small and stay consistent, increasing them bit-by-bit every week.

Happy training!

Elliptical Express – Cardio Meets Muscle Conditioning

Last week we set your training on course with our Top Tips for a Super-Fit Home Body. This week we’re stepping your cardio exercise up a gear with the foot holds and grab bars of the formidable elliptical machine. It’s time to bring further synergy between your goals, limited time, and your efforts. So let’s start …

Low Impact, Total Body Blast
As with any piece of equipment you add to your training repertoire, extracting the quickest results is first and foremost. And since getting started can be frustrating if you don’t have direction, we’ve got some tactical tips to reorganize your training plan come workout day.

With a commercial grade elliptical in your home gym you’ll be equipped to tax your heart rate while stimulating total body muscle recruitment at the same time for intense calorie burning –- all in one low impact cardio outing!

The Switch-Up
Just for cardio? Think again! The way in which you leverage your body will dictate how you engage the different muscles on your body and dramatically enhance results. So switch up your program modes as well as types of resistance (elevation, direction and body position) from time to time during your elliptical workout.

1. Power Grade will have you elevate to bigger results by adding varying degrees of incline to your elliptical workout. It’s the uphill battle you want to engage in!

Method: Periodically over the span of your cardio session, insert an elevation change to throw your body off of its steady course, forcing it into an accelerated fat-burning mode.

2. Push-Pull Super Strokes can really roar up your heart rate while engaging rear and posterior muscles of the upper body at the same time. Of course, doing so will further spur on additional calorie expenditure.

Method: Focus on pulling with power for a pre-determined amount of time. Then do the same on a reverse approach, focusing on pushing with the same intensity.

3. Heel Pull-Backs put your hamstrings under steady fire.In most strength training outings, the quadriceps that make up the anterior (front) thigh muscles are most often trained in isolation. This leaves the hard-to-hit posterior (rear) ham muscles out of sync to provide a balance of strength and flexibility.

Method: While in a forward motion, focus on pulling with your heel on the foot pedal during each stride, and minimally with your arms. This works to isolate your hamstrings to keep you moving at a good pace.

4. 12-Minute Mash-Ups really tax your ticker while forcibly working muscles fibers to their max at the same time during this circuit-style approach.

Method: (Inserted into the mid-point of your cardio session). Focus on upper body by pushing for 3 minutes on an incline of level 5, then on pulling for 3 minutes going in reverse at level 5. Next, still at level 5, focus on lower body only by using your legs and core muscles to balance, striding forward for 3 minutes, then finishing off by doing the same, but in reverse.

Remember: Keep hydrated throughout each training and cardio session. Proper intake will not only replenish lost body fluids but will also limit muscle cramping and help maintain energy levels longer.

Training Quick Tip:
Avoid over-training. Keep your weight workouts under an hour. After 60 minutes, your body starts producing more of the stress hormone cortisol, which can block testosterone while also inducing a muscle-wasting effect.

Weight Loss Quick Tip:
Avoid snacking at night. Keep in mind that if you do snack in the evening and these are excess calories above and beyond your bodies need, they’ll get stored.

Fit Body Fact:
Get ready to hit the slopes before the snow of winter is over. Sport-specific training allows you to focus on the various skills associated with a particular activity, plus you’ll be better equipped to avoid injury.

Remember, no fitness goal can be met without covering all of your nutritional basis too. Check out our life-changing eTransformation Program. You get an incredible package that covers everything you need, including a Customized Training and Nutrition Plan so you can reach your goals faster than you ever thought possible!

2015 Brings Top Fitness and Nutrition Tips for Staying Fit

Your Year for a New Body and a New You!

Part 1 – New Year Fitness Tips

Spinning your fitness wheels to start the New Year? Get a grip on your training trip fast with exercise and nutrition tips that put you in the right gear to tackle the New Year.

From nutrition to training methods and equipment, this week we help you remain true to your resolution commitments with top tips to triumph over your fitness goals in 2015. Check out the eLifestyle Fitness 4-Play below!

Fitness 4-Play

1. Cardio can torch calories and help reveal muscle definition at the same time!

Cardiovascular exercise is an essential part of the fat-burning equation. Plus, the way in which you leverage your body on your treadmill, elliptical or cross trainer will dictate how you’ll stimulate total body muscle recruitment at the same time to dramatically enhance overall results. Inject some tactical techniques into your cardio regiment by switching up your program modes as well as types of resistance (elevation, direction and body position) during your workout.

2. Utilize Squats for a full-body advantage.

Requiring over-all body strength, and one of the only exercises that works 75% of your muscles with one, single movement – mainly hamstrings, quadriceps and glutes. As a bonus, balance, core strength and stability are also greatly utilized. And no matter your ability level, there are always a few ways to modify this gem to fit any training program. To test your limits, try out Traditional Squats, Stability Ball Squats and BOSU Squats.

3. Employ different strength-training techniques when you exercise.

There are some must-have moves proven to not only build lean muscle and burn fat, but also totally tax your ticker while you train. Shorter rest periods maximize calorie expenditure while challenging your cardiovascular ability at the same time, and employing extended set options such as supersets, drop sets and pyramids improve strength and muscle endurance.

4. Work your core!

Hitting your midsection at the end of your workout with only a couple of sets and reps is really treating them as more of an afterthought than anything. With no successful fitness or exercise program being complete without proper focus, the importance of core stability reaches far beyond just aiding your fitness program. It actually determines the state of your overall health and wellness too!

Part 2 – New Year Nutrition Tips

Avoid the bad fats.

1. Trans Fats. Also known as hydrogenated fats, these fats not only raise total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, but lower HDL (good) cholesterol at the same time. Some main sources are commercially fried foods and bakery product sources such as crackers, cookies, donuts, muffins, croissants, snack foods and fried foods, such as French fries and breaded foods.

2. Saturated Fats. Solid at room temperature, these types of fats clog arteries and raise total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the body. Some main sources are animal-based sources such as red meat and whole-milk dairy products, including ice cream, butter, cheese and sour cream, and plant-based sources like palm oil, coconut oil and coconut milk and cocoa butter.

3. Follow a proper diet specific to YOUR needs.

The right combination of carbs, proteins and fats eaten at regular intervals throughout the day will ensure energy levels are kept high. Skipping meals will zap your energy when you least expect it.
Healthy snacks eaten between meals will stabilize your blood sugar levels so you won’t experience energy “highs” and “lows.”

4. Utilize natural supplementation for a healthy energy boost.

With so many on the market today, here are a few that are most common, due to the fact that they have been backed by leading research: Guarana Extract, Vitamin B6, and Green Tea Extract. (*Please check with your health professional before taking any supplement, natural or not, to ensure it’s right for your health.)

5. Limit alcohol consumption and drink plenty of water.

Alcohol is a depressant, slowing the central nervous system and delivering a sedative effect. Feeling sleepy isn’t the best thing when heading to the gym after work, so don’t be mislead by thinking a quick “social” drink with friends on the way won’t slow you down! Plus, increasing your H2O intake to ensure healthy hydration is a must. Follow the standard rule of 8 10oz glasses per day.

Burn Fat Fast With Your Cardio Workout!

Cardio Kick-Start

Take the weight off your shoulders – and your waistline – with eLifestyle’s worry-free, kick-butt approach to combating cardio confusion when you train!

Winter Waistline Warfare

With the winter season upon us, cold temperatures and darker days tend to drain our will to focus on fitness goals. What’s more, with so much time off until spring arrives, unwanted wait gain can creep up slowly making it even harder to resume efforts later on. With cardiovascular exercise being an essential part of the fat-burning equation – one that really doesn’t have to demand a lot of your time – it’s time to wage war on your waistline woes!

Stoke Your Fat Burning Fire

If you’re having difficulty getting/ staying motivated and/or perceive cardio sessions to be quite boring and monotonous, think again. Creating an easy-to-follow action plan with some simple and effective trimming tools will be your most effective waistline weaponry. And as you stoke your fat-burning fire you’ll burn a ton more calories in the shortest amount of time. Check out our three top tips from the eLifestyle playbook below!

To successfully turn your body’s metabolism into a fat-burning inferno this winter you need the trimming trifecta from eLifestyle’s weight loss playbook:

A hard-hitting plan with the right calorie-crunching cardio techniques to ensure you’ll be maximizing the time you spend at your cardio activity.

You must aim to burn more calories than you’re munching down on daily.

You’ll need the most dependable, customized fitness and weight loss program you can find.

The Right Program Is Here!

Re-tooling your fitness and weight loss regimen is simple – get eLifestyle’s 12-week eTransformation program! It’s the most efficient way of getting all the nutritional guidance and support needed to be a success. Plus, to fast-track your weight loss goals, you’ll receive a time-efficient, dynamic exercise and cardio plan customized for your specific fat-burning goals. This way remaining focused and seeing fast results will be easy!

Cardio Fat-Blast Tip: To have the best advantage at staying focused, make your cardio choice one you like. If you’re a cardio newbie, we’ll help you construct a no-fail program by using an initial three-week timetable. This method will allow you to adjust your personal schedule and allow for consistency and ease into your program. In addition, switching up your cardio options along with the types of programs and intensities you use on training day will help you get the most out of your cardio workout. There are a few must-have’s in your program …

Your Tummy-Tightening Program Should Include:

A warm-up, cool-down and stretching

A challenging mix of intensities – forward, backwards and side-stepping

Hill climbs, speed and recovery intervals

Walk Wise

If walking is your thing, make sure you’re upping your pace from week to week until you reach a brisk stride that elevates your heart rate in a way that even while working you will still be able to have a conversation. What does this mean? This translates to your perceived amount of exertion feeling about 70-75% of your maximum level of effort, or a 7 out of a 10 max. This is how you’ll maximize calorie burning while still remaining within the high end of your ability.

Safety First – From Tread to Trail

When beginning any type of exercise, be it cardio machines or trail walking, maintain a realistic approach to your ability and your goals. Start off in a light manner and progress naturally. Always include a warm-up and stretch to avoid injury. And if you have any physical or medical concerns, consult your medical professional beforehand. Don’t wait until after you’re injured!